Hope House's Domestic Violence Prevention Project partners with the Independence Police Department to address an identified need and bridge current gaps in services.

Hope House's Co-Responding Advocate provides on-scene supportive services for residents of Independence who contact the police department as a result of experiencing domestic violence. Additionallly, Hope House provides individual, family and group therapy, as well as support group services for survivors of domestic violence.

Hope House's Co-Responding Advocate works directly with the Independence Police Department to ride along and respond with officers to domestic violence related calls for service. After the scene has been assessed for safety, the Advocate will meet with survivors to provide crisis intervention services and resource referrals and linkages. The Co-Responding Advocate will also coordinate revisits to victims' homes with Independence Police officers to offer additional support and resources.

Crisis Intervention & Advocacy

Based on best practices, family therapy is only provided for the non-offending parent and their children. The proposed project addresses survivors' immediate needs by providing crisis intervention and advocacy services at the time a domestic violence incident occurrs. 

Such services include: 

• safety planning
• assistance with filing an Order of Protection
• lethality assessments
• assisting with accessing safe shelter either at Hope House's onsite Independence shelter facitlity or offsite hotel placement
• resource referrals and linkage
• follow up services as needed.

Long-Term Needs

Intermediate and long-term needs are also addressed through individual, family and group therapy services; clinical case management; and resource referrals and linkages to assist survivors with needs that may be outside the program's scope.

Additionally, the Co-Responding Advocate and off-duty Independence Police Officers provide weekly follow-up revisits with survivors at their homes. Off-duty officers serve protection orders and outstanding warrants to domestic violence offenders as needed. 

As a result of accessing services, Hope House anticipates survivors will have the resources and support needed to keep themselves and their families safe, that survivors will reduce their trauma-related symptoms, and that offenders will be held accountable for their crimes.

Locations

Hope House's physical address is not published as a security measure.

Hope House, PO Box 520409, Independence, MO 64052

Hope House Hotel Placement, PO Box 520409, Independence, MO 64052